3 Cleveland Guardians that may be gone after the 2022 MLB trade deadline

The Cleveland Guardians are one of the youngest and hot teams in MLB at the moment. With copious amounts of talent, clutch genes, and trade capital, the Guardians are a team on the brink of contention.

In recent months, the team has had its fair share of ups and downs, with certain players’ names being thrown around in trade discussions.

With farm system and major leaguers’ names in the mouths of reporters, it seems no one within the organization is safe from rumors.

Here are three Cleveland Guardians who may be dealt before the August 2nd trade deadline.

1. RHP Zach Plesac

For starters, seeing their starting pitching rotation in trade rumors does NOT mean that the Guardians have given up on this season by any means.

Cleveland has had a history of listening to trade rumors, and even trading its starters, for years now.

They traded Corey Kluber and Trevor Bauer back in 2019, Mike Clevinger in 2020, and most recently Carlos Carrasco in the Fransisco Lindor trade in 2021.

Zach Plesac has been one Guardian rumored in plenty of trade discussions throughout the past few weeks, which is understandable due to his solid 2022 campaign.

This season, Plesac has posted a 4.09 ERA and recorded 72 strikeouts in 99 innings pitched.

Looking deeper, he has given up 99 hits, 45 earned runs, and 12 home runs, which are all on track to be the second most he has given up in a season.

The only other time he has given up the amount he has this season was his 2021 campaign.

Those statistics alone showcase that Plesac has hit a wall through the last two seasons, showing little improvement.

A fresh start with another team may be exactly what he needs.

Well, what would be the best return value for him?

Plesac is currently on his rookie contract, playing above-average baseball, and doesn’t become a free agent until the 2026 MLB season, so the upside for onlooking teams is there.

His contract for the 2022 season sits at a measly $2 million, making the load less damaging.

The market for slightly above-average starting pitchers is also extremely high this season, so the front office may capitalize on that.

The Nationals are currently in a position to regroup and rebuild after the recent Juan Soto trade request, and practically anyone on the roster is available at this time.

Nationals’ first baseman Josh Bell is someone the Guards could target in a Zach Plesac trade.

Dumping off an above-average pitcher, with a prospect or two, in return for Bell could be a viable option for Cleveland.

Bell is making $10 million this season and is due up for a payday next winter after having himself a solid year so far.

Because of his success so far in 2022, dumping Plesac and a few prospects would be the most likely trade scenario.